Biology

A Vaporeon melting into water molecules

Vaporeon is a composite creature sharing physical traits of aquatic and land animals. It is a quadruped with three small toes on each foot and dark blue paw pads on the hind feet. Vaporeon's body is light blue with dark blue ridge around its head and as a ridge down its back. This Pokémon has a split tailfin that has been mistaken for a mermaid's in the past. It has a white ruff around its neck, and three fins around its head made of cream-colored webbing. It is said that rain will come within a few hours if Vaporeon's fins begin to vibrate.

Vaporeon is mostly found in urban settings and is rarely seen in the wild, but it can also be found near clean, fresh lakes. It has evolved to become better suited to an aquatic lifestyle. In addition to developing gills, it has a cell composition similar to water molecules. This structure allows Vaporeon to melt into water at will and keeps it camouflaged as it swims.

A Vaporeon made a small cameo in Pokémon Heroes under the ownership of an unnamed Trainer, who was giving it some water. Also, a Vaporeon was used by a competitor in the Tour de Alto Mare, a water chariot race.

In the Magical Pokémon Journey manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

In Blame it on Eevee, Red temporarily controlled a Vaporeon, which was actually his Eevee temporarily evolving into its three known evolutions. It eventually evolved permanently into an Espeon, losing the ability to switch back and forth between its advanced forms.

When Yellow fantasized about Pokémon that could evolve via stone a Vaporeon appeared along with an Eevee, Jolteon and Flareon in The Kindest Tentacruel.

Trivia

In Generation I, Vaporeon had a notably different design with the backs of its ears being all black, fins on each leg, and a fin running down the entire length of its back. All of these details were removed in Generation II. Notably, these details weren't present in its original Pokémon Red and Green artwork.

In Pokémon Yellow, Vaporeon is programmed to learn both Haze and Mist at level 42; however, a bug prevents a Pokémon from learning two moves at the same level, so Vaporeon cannot learn Mist in Yellow.

Origin

Vaporeon's origins are uncertain, though it could be based on a cross between aquatic creatures, felines, and canids. Its feline and fish characteristics may mean that Vaporeon may be a visual pun on the catfish. The fins and dorsal lining may be based off different types of tropical fish. Its ears resemble a mix between a fish's fin and a fennec fox's or caracal's ears. It also shares characteristics with mermaids. Vaporeon may also be inspired by the Telchines of Greek mythology, or the Merlion, a national symbol of Singapore. Vaporeon's resemblance to both carnivorans and cetaceans could be based on primitive whales, such as Kutchicetus. Its fringe around its neck resembles a ruff.

Name origin

Vaporeon is a combination of vapor (a gaseous form of water) and eon (an immeasurably long period of time, possibly referring to how long evolution takes naturally). Eon is a suffix all Eeveeevolutions share and was Eevee's English prototype name.